as in to eradicate
to destroy all traces of
the triumph of modern medicine in extirpating certain diseases
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Recent Examples of extirpate
Mountain lions were native to Arkansas until about 1920, when they were extirpated from the state through unregulated hunting and habitat loss.
—
Bryan Hendricks, Arkansas Online, 9 Oct. 2025
But by the 1930s, the apex predators had been extirpated from the area, largely due to hunting, government eradication programs and habitat loss.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 July 2025
While both black and brown bears can be found in abundance during a visit, the park made waves in 1995 with the reintroduction of gray wolves, an iconic species that was extirpated from the region in the early 20th century.
—Jared Ranahan, Forbes.com, 28 Mar. 2025
Wildlife officials have collared a dozen gray wolves in Northern California in an effort to better understand and manage the species that has made a comeback in the state after being extirpated a century ago.
—Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 19 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for extirpate
Bryan Hendricks, Arkansas Online, 9 Oct. 2025
But by the 1930s, the apex predators had been extirpated from the area, largely due to hunting, government eradication programs and habitat loss.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 July 2025
While both black and brown bears can be found in abundance during a visit, the park made waves in 1995 with the reintroduction of gray wolves, an iconic species that was extirpated from the region in the early 20th century.
—Jared Ranahan, Forbes.com, 28 Mar. 2025
Wildlife officials have collared a dozen gray wolves in Northern California in an effort to better understand and manage the species that has made a comeback in the state after being extirpated a century ago.
—Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 19 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for extirpate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for extirpate
Verb
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These four novels create a convincing, wrenching, kaleidoscopic picture of the range and repetitions of the most fatal kind of love; the sort of love that allows nothing else to grow around it, that eradicates all dignity; a love which, in order to be completed, must be told.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 Feb. 2026
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Because of these and other factors, the program to eradicate coca farming in Colombia failed, and production exploded.—
Greg Rosalsky,
NPR,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Cook County has also had a separate program to erase medical debt.—
Lisa Schencker,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Feb. 2026
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This administration is literally erasing Black and Transgender people from society.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
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In a similar move, Dissanayake's government abolished perks provided to former presidents in September in response to popular demand.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
17 Feb. 2026
-
The holiday first made it to the states when French explorers settled in New Orleans, and the celebrations stuck until the Spanish gained control of Louisiana and abolished the carnival.—
Paige Moore,
AZCentral.com,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Shipwreck hunters have been searching the lakes with more urgency in recent years out of concerns that invasive quagga mussels are slowly destroying wrecks.—
Todd Richmond,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Feb. 2026
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However, archaeologists faced a significant challenge—how to penetrate its secrets without destroying it in the process?—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
15 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Extirpate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/extirpate. Accessed 19 Feb. 2026.
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